It was Mozart's Sonata in D for two pianos that gave birth to
the so-called "Mozart Effect" twenty-odd years ago. This in
turn sparked the release of a flurry of albums made up of various
combinations of the composer's effortlessly mellifluous and
relaxing adagios, andantes and other famous odds and ends. Like
many things, the Mozart Effect turned out to be based on fairly
flimsy inferences, though the industry
that sprang up around it still flourishes. Nevertheless, research
and circumstantial evidence abound suggesting that many pieces
of art music are significantly more soothing - and certainly
less nettlesome - than almost any other genre.

Correlating listening to art music with intellectual advancement
is a risky gambit in a post-modern culture that luxuriates in
the lowest common denominator, but Delos's blurb for their 'Baby
Needs' series pulls no punches: "Research indicates that listening
to classical music promotes learning and improves problem-solving
skills, with Mozart's music currently heading the list. With
this in mind, Delos introduces a series focused on developing
intellectual capabilities right from the start", taking into
account "the special needs of the very young". The 'Baby Needs'
discs were first released at the end of the 20th century. More
than a decade on, a reissue would appear well timed, with more
adults than ever seemingly under the misapprehension that young
children require some or other variety of pop blasted at them
at every opportunity.

At any rate, 'Baby Needs More Mozart' is a thoughtful but non-trivial
collection, offering infants and toddlers - and mums and dads
- a gentle but varied "musical bridge between play time and
quiet time". Whether or not all of these pieces are entirely
suited to their given aim is a moot question: with so much to
choose from in Mozart's oeuvre, the valedictory second movement
of his last String Quartet K.590 seems a rather gloomy piece
to go for. On the other hand, it does seem highly likely that
almost any music by Mozart, given its supremely Classical
melodies, rhythms and forms, will prove attractive to young
listeners, especially if it is to function primarily as mood
or background music for the first few years. Curiously, the
series promises "new ways to help your child fall in love with
classical music" - does being exposed to music from the earliest
age really constitute a "new way"?

Parents, incidentally, or indeed any adult looking for
some music to kick off their shoes to, no questions asked, should
also find their needs well met by this widely appealing series.
Performances are all of good quality, with no shortage of well-known
names. Sound is a little subdued but generally admirable. The
booklet - somewhat surprisingly, perhaps - does supply proper
notes on the music, written for adults without preamble in straightforward
language without trivialising the music.

Naxos recently embarked on their own similar 'My First Album'
series (see this review,
for example), which founder Klaus Heymann declared "one of our
most important projects with music for children." Though in
a similar price range, in terms of quality of performance, sound
and overall programming, these Delos discs are a clear winner.